A’s capitalize with 15-1 win over Tigers, earn fourth straight
championship
Hollister
The Athletics put forth a dynastic effort in the San Benito Babe Ruth championship Saturday, as they defeated the Tigers 15-1 in a shortened five-inning contest at Veterans Memorial Park in Hollister.
Battling triple-digit temperatures, as well as a formidable foe in the Tigers that were just two years re-moved from a 1-17 season, the A’s claimed their fourth Babe Ruth title in a row on Saturday, their first under manager Joe Ocampo.
“It’s a good little tradition,” Ocampo said. “It was all a team effort. Everyone scored runs and everyone hit the ball. Our pitching kind of shut it down for us.”
A’s starter Dillon Di Napoli went five innings, allowing just one run on five hits.
“The kids fought hard. We were facing Dillon and he’s one of the best pitchers in the league,” said Tigers manager Jerry Sepulveda. “If we’re gonna win that game, we’ve got to keep it close and hope for a couple of breaks. But unfortunately it didn’t work out that way.”
The title game got off to a quick start, as the first two innings went nearly in order for both teams. But an eight-run third inning by the A’s supplied them with a comfortable cushion for the remainder of the contest, a lead they would not relinquish.
After two walks to open the third, Josh Brooks laid down a near-perfect drag bunt to load the bases for the A’s.
The A’s then forced three straight bases-loaded walks that all led to runs, while Emmett King then connected on an RBI single to right field. Anthony Ocampo followed with a two-run double to center to give the A’s a commanding lead.
“Everything fell into a good groove,” Joe Ocampo said. “We started hitting and hitting and getting runs.”
The A’s scored three more runs in the fourth and four in the fifth. The Tigers plated their run in the fifth when Cooper Sepulveda hit a one-out double and Rolando Robles knocked him on an RBI single later in the inning.
“I’m very proud of them,” Jerry Sepulveda said. “We were an expansion team two years ago and started 1-17. We turned that around pretty good.
“I can’t say enough about my kids and the parents … just very supportive, very positive.”
The Tigers were coming off a dramatic nine-inning semifinal victory against the Rockies, in which Marcus Sabatte connected on a walk-off sacrifice fly that scored Sergio Cosio for an 8-7 extra-inning win.
The Tigers used their “go-to” guy in Robles on the mound that game. Robles went seven innings and struck out nine against the Rockies.
The A’s, which were fresh off a 12-7 semifinal win last Friday against the Cardinals – as well as three straight Babe Ruth titles – allowed their experience to lead the way.
“Every game that we did win during the season, the kids knew what had to be done,” Ocampo said. “It was more like work. We knew what had to be done and we moved on to the next game … The kids are the ones who are out their practicing. They’re the ones who have to hit the ball.
“But it was a good season for both teams. You don’t get (to the championship) just because.”
San Benito Babe Ruth 13-Year-Old All-Stars
Brandon Adamson
AJ Castaneda
Cole Daniel
Jose Guzman
Tyler Heenan
Dalan Hoskins
Eddie Munoz
Juan Rios
Michael Rodriguez
Ray Rueda
Rudy Sanchez
Skyler Shaw-Fuss
David Williams
Manager Angel Rueda
Coach Julian Gaytan
Coach Abram Gaytan
San Benito Babe Ruth 14-Year-Old All-Stars
Jacob Cabral
Tanner Carrillo-Zazueta
Sergio Cosio
Emmett King
Steven Hernandez
Adrian Medina
Mark Nakata
Anthony Ocampo
Tyler Quinby
Angel Robles
Dustin Rovella
Kevin Salvas
Matt Vallejo
Manager Joe Ocampo
Coach Robert Rovella
Coach John Hernandez
San Benito Babe Ruth 15-Year-Old All-Stars
Daniel Arevalo
Kallin Corotto
Will Cross
Dillon Di Napoli
Ricky Garcia
Brandon Grimes
Jahziel Gonzalez
Mark Hurley
Oscar Ramirez
Rolando Robles
Ryan Rojas
Cooper Sepulveda
Eddie Vargas
Manager Jerry Sepulveda
Coach Eddie Vargas
Coach Oscar Ramirez
